Vinyl pressings
by Loudon Wainwright III · 1978
Final Exam was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 7 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
AB-4173-S/A-9 CTH B3 TSide A runout etched, variant 1
AB-4173-B4 SX T A-3 Ƨ 2Side B runout etched, variant 1
AB-4173-SA-3 A T I ̶̷̸̲̅A̶̷̸̲̅ ̶̷̸̲̅A̶̷̸̲̅B̶̷̸̲̅ ̶̷̸̲̅A̶̷̸̲̅M̶̷̸̲̅-̶̷̸̲̅ ̶̷̲̅4̶̷̲̅1̶̷̲̅7̶̷̲̅3̶̷̲̅-̶̷̲̅S̶̷̲̅A̶̷̲̅-̶̷̲̅3̶̷̲̅Side A runout etched, variant 2
AB-4173-B5 A 7 T \ ̶̷̸̲̅B̶̷̸̲̅Side B runout etched, variant 2
AB-4173-S/A 11-1-11 MASTERDISK PRCRunout Side A, etched [MASTERDISK stamped]
AB-4173-S/B 10-1-1 MASTERDISK PRCRunout Side B, etched [MASTERDISK stamped]
AB 4173 SALabel Side A
AB 4173 SBLabel Side B
P AB-4173-SA-2 MASTERSISKSide A runout, variant 1
P AB-4173-SB2 MASTERDISKSide B runout, variant 1
P AB-4173-SA-2 MASTERSISK ASide A runout, variant 2
P AB-4173-SB2 MASTERDISK C 3Side B runout, variant 2
SPART1042 A//1 TO 1 1 1 BiLBORunout A
SPART1042 B//1 TO 1 1 4 DBRunout B
SPART.1042ALabel A
SPART.1042BLabel B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Arista AL-4173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista AB 4173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Arista 2C 068-60 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Arista 1C 064-60 608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Arista 5N 058N-60608 / Arista 1C 064-60 608First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Arista SPART 1042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Arista AB 4173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Arista AB 4173First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Arista AB 4173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Arista AB 4173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
10 vinyl pressings of Final Exam are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Arista AB 4173.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AB 4173, SPART 1042, AL-4173, 2C 068-60 608) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AB-4173-S/A-9 CTH B3 T and AB-4173-B4 SX T A-3 Ƨ 2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
